Manilla teenager Hannah Thurn received “quite a shock” when awarded the Lugsdin Memorial Trophy for the Best Under 25 Youth Parader of the Show at the 62ndDectomax National Shorthorn Show & Sale in Dubbo recently.
Representing CalrossyAnglican School in Tamworth, the Year 11 student paraded Kamilaroi Tanami (named after the Tanami Desert) and took the judges’ eyes for victory in the memorial event which catered for entries from a wide area, including five other shorthorn bulls from Calrossy.
“They’re basically judged on how well we lead and stand them up. But we had no idea about the award prior to the parade – it was quite a shock. We took a team of six of our bulls down to Dubbo and sold all six for atotal of $80,000, averaging $13,333,” the 16-year-old said.
Hannah studies Agriculture and Primary Industries at school– the agriculture being more science based while the Primary Industries focuses on just how a farm works and is run. She is part of school’s cattle team, and one of this year’s team leaders, though working with the cattle isn’t a school subject, it’s only an extra curricular. The team’s focus is to work on the animals and take them to various shows according to Hannah.
“I love working with the cattle. Many of my friends here at school were doing it back in Year 7, so I had a crack at it, and loved it. We all choose our own bull while he’s still young, then work on him up until he’s sale and show age. And I really like learning more about the different perspectives of the judges from all over the place, both nationally and internationally. They all have different, but interesting opinions,” she said.
While Hannah, who also claimed a nice second placing in the F002 Paraders class at the
Sydney Royal earlier in the year, loves working with and showing cattle for her school, she’s just as much at home in the saddle and enjoys the sports of showjumping, tentpegging and campdrafting. But she can’t choose between the two – “sometimes at shows I need to choose, but can’t, so find myself running around doing both”.
“During these school holidays I was going to compete in the World Showjumping Cup in Tamworth, but that’s been postponed because of Covid. And we still have to work on other cattle for Quirindi and Tamworth shows later in the year,” she said.
Due to her dedication to showing cattle and her beloved horses, Hannah doesn’t have much time for outside interests. “If I’m not working and exercising for the shows, I’m actually at the show,” she said.
Future plans include heading up to the Northern Territory to spend some time in the outback working with stock once her Year 12 is complete.
“Then I’d really love to get into Charles Sturt Uni at Wagga Wagga and do veterinary science,” she said.
By Vinnie Todd
